Buffs LB Barnes Ready To Make Every-Game Impact

BOULDER — Colorado graduate transfer linebacker Robert Barnes spent much of 2021 learning on the fly.

Now he's ready to fly full-time.

A safety for most of his career, Barnes arrived as a graduate transfer from Oklahoma last season and made the move to linebacker. While he played in 11 games last season, including three starts, he still admits to enduring some "growing pains" as he became accustomed to his new role.

But near the end of the season, he began to feel comfortable — and the results showed.

In Colorado's 20-17 win over Washington in Week 11, Barnes played 62 snaps and produced maybe the best game of his career. He stopped a UW drive in the third quarter with an interception, set up a…